Gujarat is situated in the west coast of India. The state is bounded by the Arabian sea on the west, Pakistan and Rajasthan in the north and north-east respectively, Madhya Pradesh in the south-east and Maharashtra in the south. The state covers an area of 196,024 sq km (75,685 sq mi).
The name 'Gujarat' is said to have been derived from the Prakrit Gujjar Ratta or Gujjar Rashtra - the land of Gujjars - a tribe that entered India with the Huns in ancient time and wandering through Punjab and Rajasthan, settled in western India.
Gujarat had a great civilization even before the arrival of the Aryans. It had trade links with ancient civilizations of Sumer, Babylon, Assyria and Egypt. The Port of Lothal which has been excavated recently has been identified as an important centre of the 4500 years old Aryan civilization.
Gujarat is renowned for its temples and monuments associated with momentous historical periods. The architectural and artistic virtuosity of the people of Gujarat is reflected in the many buildings both ancient and modern. As much a part of the state are its wildlife sanctuaries, its hill resorts, its natural grandeur and religious and pilgrim centers.
Gujarat has a single-chamber legislative assembly with 182 members. The state sends 37 members to the Indian national parliament: 11 to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and 26 to the Lok Sabha (Lower House). Local government is based on 19 administrative districts.
History
Signs of civilization in the region that is now Gujarat date back to the period from 3000 to 1500 BC. The region was part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC under King Ashoka. In 1818 the English East India Company took control of Gujarat, administering the state through local princely rulers. With the independence of India in 1947, Gujarat became part of the state of Bombay. In 1960 Bombay state was split up, and Gujarat was formed from the northern and western portions, which were predominantly Gujarati-speaking areas. Most of the remainder of Bombay state became Maharashtra state, with a small portion going to Karnataka state.
Society and culture
The diverse ethnic groups represented in the Gujarati population may be broadly categorized as Indic (i.e., northern-derived) or Dravidian (southern-derived). The former include the Nagar Brahman, Bhatia, Bhadela, Rabari, and Mina castes (the Parsis, originally from Persia, represent a much later northern influx); among the peoples of southern origin are the Bhangi, Koli, Dubla, Naikda, and Macchi-Kharwa tribes. The rest of the population, including the aboriginal Bhil tribe, exhibit mixed characteristics. Members of the Scheduled (formerly "untouchable") Castes and of the aboriginal tribes form nearly one-fifth of the state's population. There is one entirely tribal district of Dangs. Ahmadabad district has the highest proportion of Scheduled Castes. Gujarati and Hindi are the official languages of the state. About 70% of the population are Hindus ahead of minorities of Muslims and Jains. About one-third of the population is urban. The most urbanized part of the state is the Ahmadabad-Vadodara (Baroda) industrial belt. Major towns that were once capitals of princely states are Rajkot, Junagadh, Bhavnagar (Bhaunagar), and Jamnagar.
The folklore and folk culture of Gujarat are traced to the mythology of Lord Krishna. Dance forms and festivals in honour Krishna exist, Garba and Bhavai being two examples. Among the most durable and effective of the state's cultural institutions are the trade and craft guilds known as mahajans which often solves disputes, acted as channels of philanthropy, and encouraged the arts. Gujarat’s handicrafts are famous the world over Economy and infrastructure
About two-thirds of the population is engaged in agriculture, the gross area cropped amounting to about half of the total land area. Wheat and millet are the staple food crops, with rice production being concentrated in the wetter areas. Sugarcane production is increasing, while cotton, tobacco, and oilseeds (especially peanuts [groundnuts]) are profitable cash crops. Gujarat produces about one-third of India's peanut crop and about one-third of the country's tobacco. Cash crops are characteristic of the state's agricultural economy.
One of India's most industrialized states, Gujarat maintains a variety of industries, the principal ones being general and electrical engineering and the manufacture of textiles, vegetable oils, chemicals, soda ash, and cement. New industries include the production of fertilizers and petrochemicals. Petroleum production began in 1960, and an oil refinery is located at Vadodara.
A thermal-power station is located at Dhuvaran. The state also receives power from the Tarapur nuclear facility in Maharashtra state. The long-delayed Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada River was projected to become the state's largest producer of hydroelectric power and to provide water for extensive irrigation Gujarat has a total railway length of 5268 kms and total road length of 72950 kms when survey last conducted for 31st march, 1999. Its National Highways constitute about 4.5 per cent of the total length of National Highways in India.
Coastal shipping routes link Gujarat's many ports. Kandla is a major international shipping terminal. There is air service both within the state and to major Indian cities outside Gujarat Tourist centres
Gujarat has 4 national parks and 11 sanctuaries. The game sanctuary at Gir ( the world’s last habitat of the Asiatic lion), the sacred temples of Dwarka and Somnath, Palitana, the picturesque mountain city of Jain temples on about 2000 feet high Shetrunjaya hills, Udwada, the oldest place of the Fire temple of Parsees in India, the 5000-year old archaeological finds at Lothal, the 11th century Sun temples at Modhera, bird sanctuary at nal Sarovar, architectural monuments of Indo-Saracenic style at Ahmedabad and the national shrine of Gandhiji at Sabarmati, are a few of the varied attractions.
| Area | 1,96,000 sq. kms. (6.10% of the total area of India) |
| Districts | 25 |
| Talukas | 223 |
| Villages | 18114 |
| State Capital | Gandhinagar |
Cities with a population
of over 100,000 | 11 |
| Principal language | Gujarati |
| Literacy | 61% |
| Major Languages | Gujarati, Hindi, Sindhi, Marathi |
| Crops | cotton, oilseeds, sugarcane, tobacco, rice, millets, wheat |
| Minerals | fluorite, lignite, limestone, bauxite, gypsum, oil &natural gas |
| Industries | textile, cement, chemicals, petroleum, dairy products, sugar, oilseeds, pharmaceuticals,salt, electronics,engineering |
| Roads | surfaced- 63,322 kms, unsurfaced- 5656 kms. |
| Railways | 5,500 kms |
| Airports | Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Keshod, Surat, Kandla, Porbandar, Rajkot, Bhuj |
| Climate | 27º C to 42º C in summer, 14º C to 29º C in winter, monsoon is from June to Sept. |
| Coastline | 1,600 kms. |
| Universities | 10 |
Our State of GUJARAT Situated in western India and bordering Pakistan, Gujarat is among Indias most prosperous states.
Its per capita GDP is 2.4 times the Indian average.
Gujaratis GDP growth rate is 10.6% and India can not achieve 8 percent Growth rate without Gujarat getting closer to 12% growth rate.
If it was a nation it would have been 67th richest nation in the world above many European and Asian economies like Taiwan and Ukraine.
Gujarat holds many records in India for economic development:
20% of India 's Industrial Output
80% of India 's Diamond Production
9% of India 's Mineral Production
50% of India 's Natural Gas Production
54% of India 's Crude Oil Production
22% of India 's exports
24% of India 's textile production
45% of India 's pharmaceutical products
35% of India 's Sponge Iron Production
47% of India 's petrochemical Production
The world's largest ship breaking yard is in Gujarat near Bhavnagar at Alang.
Reliance Petroleum Limited, one of the group companies of Reliance Industries Limited founded by Dhirubhai Ambani operates the oil refinery at Jamnagar which is the world's largest grass roots refineries.
Gujarat ranks first nationwide in gas-based thermal electricity generation with national market share of over 8% and second nationwide in nuclear electricity generation with national market share of over 1%.
Over 20% of the S&P CNX 500 conglomerates have corporate offices in Gujarat
Over 35% of the stock market wealth of India is with Gujarati People.
In recent Forbes magazine list of 10 richest Indian people four are Gujarati - Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Azim Premji and Tulsi Tanti Over 60% of Indian Population in North America is Gujarati.
An average income of a Gujarati family in North America is three times more than the average income of an American family.
Gujarat is having the longest sea shore compared to any other Indian state
Gujarat is having the highest no. of operating airports in India (Total 12)..
India 's 16% of Investment are from Gujarat ..
Gujarat is having highest no. of vegetarian people compared to any other state in India..
The first ALL VEG PIZZA-HUT was opened in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad “ the commercial capital of Gujarat is the seventh largest city in India...
Surat is the fastest growing city in the world.
Gandhinagar is the Greenest Capital City in whole Asia
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad(IIMA) is Asia 's 1st and world's 45th ranked management college located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat .
Gujarat is the safest state as the Crime rate of it is 8.2 which is the least in India stated by India Today 2005 report.
Gujarat is having least crime against women among all Indian states where AP is 1st, Delhi is 2nd , Bihar is 3rd , Zarakhand is 4th and UP is 5th.
Ahmedabad which is the seventh largest city in India is the lowest in crime rate among all Tier-I and Tier-II cities of India as per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.
Ahmedabad is ranked 2nd in Real Estate - Ahead of Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai & Delhi.
Ahmedabad is ranked 3rd in Policy Initiatives - Ahead of Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta, Mumbai & Delhi.
Ahmedabad is ranked 4th in Manpower - Ahead of Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai & Delhi.
Percent of man-days lost in Gujarat due to labor strike are lowest in country - just 0.52%
It is the first state to implement the BOT law for encouraging private sector participation
The first state to have to fully functional LNG terminal
Gujarat has 33 approved SEZs
Gujarat is the first state to interconnect 20 rivers
It is the first state to provide uninterrupted 24hr 2 phase electricity to all villages
It is the only state with statewide gas grid
It is currently implementing statewide water distribution grid that will connect all 14,000 villages and all cities
It has largest e-governance network in Asia Pacific
Its agricultural production has been increased four-fold in five years (from USD 2 Billion in 2001-2002 to 7.5 Billion in 2005-2006)
In every corner of Gujarat, within the range of 25 KMs there is a development going on.
Operation WHITE FLOOD (MILK) was initiated in Gujarat by Dr. Kurien which took India in 1998 to become highest milk producer in the world.
Consumption of GOLD in Gujarat is highest in India ..
Largest number of immigration & emigration is done from Gujarat ..
Also highest Numbers of passports are issued from Gujarat .
Baroda gas project - bringing natural gas to every home - More than 35 years ago they installed pipelines to bring natural gas to every kitchen.
AMUL - NDDB another achievement for Gujarat - it was just fantastic to see how they collected milk early morning from every village in Gujarat .
The villagers would line up at 3 in the morning at the milk collection centers!!! What a sight!
According to a recent study by the Reserve Bank of India, the country's central bank, Gujarat stood first in the country with investments of US$17.8 billion in 2006-07 or 25.8% of India 's total investment of $69 billion during the year.The southern state of Andhra Pradesh stood a distant second having attracted $6.1 billion in 2006-07.
Gujarat moved up from second place in 2005-06 having tripled its investments in a year..
A report in Times of India describes the Gulf of Kutch as India 's ' Gulf of Riches '. Four top business houses - Reliance Industries, Essar Group, Adani Group and Tata Group, have invested about $34 billion along the Gulf of Kutch's 700-kilometer long coastline. Other corporate, which had invested over $3.26 billion since the 2001 earthquake have investments worth another $19.5 billion in the pipeline.
Ten special economic zones (SEZs) near Jamnagar , a 4000-megawatt power project and five private shipyards are coming up. And massive expansion is being undertaken of the Mundra and Kandla ports.
Gujarat 's 41 ports handle 80% of India 's port traffic and 20% of its cargo. It is estimated that by 2015, Gujarat 's ports will handle 39% of India 's cargo.
Not only has Gujarat unseated Maharashtra as India 's number one investment destination but also, it is threatening to dislodge Mumbai, Maharashtra 's capital and the financial and business capital of India , as the trade gateway to the country.
Mundra port where Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum are setting up giant oil storage capacities has already emerged as India 's largest private oil storage tank farm.
Sixty percent of India 's coal imports enter via Mundra port. Mundra's importance is likely to soar further with the completion of mega power plants being set up by Adanis and Tatas.
The volume of cargo handled by Mundra and Kandla ports alone has outstripped that handled by Mumbai's ports - the Mumbai Port Trust and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
And now Gujarat is nursing ambitions of dislodging Mumbai as India 's financial hub. Its government recently announced the setting up of an international financial services center, the Gujarat International Finance Tech-City with an investment outlay of $6 billion in Ahmedabad.
Forbes Magazine published list of Top 20 Self-Made Business-Men from Asia . The list includes 6 men from India and out of 6 three are Gujarati - Tulsi Tanti, Gautam Adani and Uday Kotak.
Be VERY PROUD to be a GUJARATI and please pass alone this to other Gujarati's
" Jya Jya Vase Ek GUJARATI Tya Tya Sadakal GUJARAT ". But we also proud to be an Indian.
